It's for Life is a South African television sitcom created by Gugulethu Zuma, Nokuthula Zuma and Fundiswa Zwane and produced by Nyenyedzi Productions in association with Creative Etc. Productions which revolves around three 20-something women who discover a squatter living in their new house and whom the law prevents them from evicting, and focuses on the lives, relationships, loves and dramas facing four young black women living in South Africa.
Three friends move into a house to find a squatter living there - a young black woman who has been squatting in their new house for months. As it turns out South African law doesn't allow the girls to evict her unless they provide her with alternate accommodation.
They spent all the money they had to get this place so have no option of providing her with alternate accommodation and thus the three girls become four.
They try their best throughout the season to get their new squatter to leave, but no matter what they do, it looks like she is there to stay.
The squatter is a crazy eccentric character, but as it turns out she fits right in with the other girls and their off-the-wall, wacky quirks. They are all in their twenties and forging their identities and careers in the new and exciting working world.
Most of the people they come across and the ones they have in their lives are quite weird and wonderful. Even the ones that look straight-laced and normal soon show themselves to have hilarious traits.
It is almost as though the internal dialogue we all have and the strange things we do when no-one else is around we see in these characters.
It's for Life stars Gugulethu Zuma as Coco, Thuli Zuma as Jabu, Nkuli Sibeko as Zanele and Talitha Ndima as Sam.
Gugulethu takes the role of Coco, an Events Co-ordinator by profession and a so-called "coconut" by choice, actively distancing herself from her Zulu roots whilst embracing 21st urban living with passion and life.
Thuli's Jabu, meanwhile, is an aspiring radio DJ who lives for music and who simply cannot be boxed into any kind of stereotype.
Zanele is an accountant by trade and the quiet one amongst the foursome, always supporting her boyfriend Sthe's (Bonga Dlamini) outlandish money-making schemes.
Sam, meanwhile, is the opposite of Zanele – a medical doctor doing her community service; she's outgoing, a tomboy, always in your-face and a self-professed bachelorette.
Others in the cast include Charles Bouguenon as Brad and Mitchell Khan as Chad – Brad being Coco's on-off, on-off boyfriend and Chad being obsessed by Jabu in a sometimes weirdly sinister way.
It's for Life is about four young woman making their way through life in a fun, exciting way. It's a story of four women who have ups-and-downs in love, career and friendship – but who will always be together, in one way or another, for life.
The series was created by Gugulethu Zuma, Nokuthula Zuma and Fundiswa Zwane and produced by Nyenyedzi Productions in association with Creative Etc. Productions. Gugulethu Zuma was the producer. The writers were Wesley Gainer and Lwazi Mvuso and it was directed by Sthembiso Mathenjwa.
Music for the series was composed by Motlatsi Mafatshe, Tsoro Mavuso and Simphiwe Khumalo.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Gugulethu Zuma ... Coco
Nokuthula Zuma ... Jabu
Nkuli Sibeko ... Zanele (as Nkuli Sibeko-Bortman)
Talitha Ndima ... Sam
Recurring / Guests
Bonga Dlamini ... Sthe
Charles Bouguenon ... Brad
Mitchell Khan ... Chad
Baby Cele ... Sthe's Mom
Phakamani Zikalala ... Matt (as Phakamani Trinity Zakalala)
S. Brednor ... Reggie
Tutu Zuma ... Coco's Sister